Electrical connecter



19361 c. E. GILBERT I ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed Jan. 17, 19 35 INVENTOR.

-' Charles E. Gilbert B WKQ M3 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. l0, 1936 PATENT OFF-ICE ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Charles E. Gilbert, New York, N. Y. Application 1...... 17, 1935, Serial No. 2,168

. 13 Claims.

Among the objects of this invention is the provision of an electrical connecter having a minimum of parts each of which maybe provided at a minimum cost, in which the contact elements are securely and rigidly retained without the use of rivets, screws or other attaching devices re-L quiring the use of tools, which may also be connected to an electrical conductor as a step in. the assembly also without the use of tools and which, if desired, may be much smaller than connecters now available.

The form shown in the drawing and described herein is an electric plug but it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but is applicable to various other types of connecters.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an'electric plug embodying the invention assembled and connected to a conductor;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the plug of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar enlarged plan view showing details of construction more clearly;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the plug of Fig. 3

as indicated by the-dotted line 33,and arrows in Fig. 3; I

Figs. 5 and 6 are views of a contact element:

able insulating material.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail of the recess in the body in which the contact element is retained, viewed as indicated by the dotted line 1-1 and arrows in Fig. 6.

As shown in the drawing, the connecter consists of but three parts, the body I and two contact elements 2 and 3. The body may be molded in a single operation from a single piece of suit- Each contact element may be made of a single strip of suitable metal bent upon itself as at 4 to form 9. prong, one leg 5 of which is somewhat longer than the other leg 6. Adjacent the free end of leg 5 a tongue is provided preferably by stamping and bending, which projects outwardly as shown at I. At the extreme free end of shorter leg 6 another tongue 8 is provided which is bent inwardly. Tongue 8 is so positioned-in relation to tongue 1 that when legs 5 and 6 are pressed together tongue 8 will enter the upper part of the aperture 8 in leg 5 resulting from the forming of tongue I.

The tip of leg 5 is preferably grooved longitudinally as shown at Ill to form a channel between the exterior and aperture 9 when the two legs 5 and 6 are brought together.

In body l there is provided for each contact element a recess I I, the length of which is slightly greater than the width of the contact element,

and the end portions of which are slightly wider than the thickness of legs 5 and 6 when pressed together. The outer side wall of recess II is cut by a channel I! of substantially the same length as the width of tongue I except adjacent its open 5 end where it is constricted by shoulders I3 projecting inwardly from the side walls of channel II, the opposing faces curving upwardly'as shown in Fig. 7. The junction between the side wall of recess II and the lower edges of shoulders I3 10 forms substantially a right angle, as shown in Fig. 4. An additional channel I8 opening into channel I! and not wider than its constricted portion may be provided. The opposite side wall of recess II is cut away at its top sufllciently to 15 provide a channel I4 for the conductor between the central opening I5 and recess II which channel is continued downwardly as shown at I6, substantially to the bottom of recess I I.

Theconnecter is assembled and conductor, I9 20 connected by passing the conductor through the central opening I5 of the body and then placing it in groove "ill of leg 5 of'the contact element with its bared end projecting into aperture 9. Then the two legs 5 and 6 are pinched together 25 whereupon the conductor I9 is bent into aperture 9 by tongue 8. The free ends of legs 5 and 6 are now pushed into recess II, tongue I springing inward to pass shoulders I3 and then springing out to lock thereunder. Conductor I9 will 3 be bent around the end of leg 6 and will pass through channel I6 to bend sharply again as it enters central opening I5. The contact element is rigidly held by recess II with its legs pressedclosely together. Positive engagement between 35 the contact element and the conductor is thus assured. Also the several sharp bends which have been given to the conductor make it impossible to displace it or pull it out. The contact element. is securely locked in the body against 0 each contact element and the bared conductor are buried in individual recesses separated .by solid walls of insulation. The connecter of the above construction may be'much smaller than connections of ordinary constructionand, if desired, may be rectangular, instead of round as 55 shown, so that it can be used in extremely cramped spaces.

I claim: I

1. An electrical connecter comprising a body of insulating material provided with a central opening and a longitudinal recess and a contact element consisting of a strip of conducting material bent upon itself so that one leg is longer than the other, the free ends of said legs being seated in said recess, the longer leg beingprovided with an aperture and an outwardly extended resilient tongue in engagement with a wall of said recess to positively lock said contact element in said recess against retraction, the shorter leg being provided with an inwardly extending tongue adjacent its free end positioned within said aperture.

2. An electrical connecter according to claim 1 characterized in that the wall of the recess opposed to the shorter leg of the contact element is provided with a longitudinal channel disposed symmetrically with the longitudinal axis of said leg when seated in said recess.

3. An electrical connecter according to claim 1 characterized in that the side walls of said recesses are bisected by cross channels.

4. An electrical connecter according to claim 1 characterized in that the upper edge of the inner side wall of said recess is bisected by a channel opening into the central opening of the body.

5. An electrical connecter comprising a. body of insulating material provided with a longitudinal recess and shoulders constricting said recess adjacent its open end and a contact element, said contact element consisting of a strip of conducting material bent upon itself. so that one leg is longer than the other,,the free end of said legs being seated in said recess, the longer leg being provided with an aperture and an outwardly extending tongue engaging with a wall of said recess and abutting said shoulder to lock said contact element in said recess against retraction, the shorter leg being provided with an inwardly extending tongue adjacent its free end lying within said aperture.

6. An electrical connecter comprising a body of insulating material provided with a longitudinal recess, a channel cutting the central portion of the outer wall of said recess, shoulders on the side walls of said channel projectinginto said recess adjacent its open end, the inner edges of said shoulders forming substantially a right angle with and joining said outer wall of said recess, a contact element consisting of a strip of. conducting material bent upon itself so that one leg is longer than the other, the free ends of said legs being seated in said recess, the longer leg being provided with an aperture and an outwardly extending tongue engaged with said outer wall of said recess and abutting said shoulder to lock said contact element in said recess against retraction, the shorter leg being provided with an inwardly extending tongue adjacent its free end lying within said aperture.

ducting material bent upon itself so that one leg is longer than the other, the free ends or said legs being seated in said recess, the longer leg being provided with an aperture and an outwardly extending tongue engaged with said outer wall of said recess and abutting said shoulder to lock said contact element in said recess against retraction, the shorter leg being provided with an inwardly extending tongue adjacent its free end lying within said aperture, the inner wall of said recess being provided with a longitudinal channel opposed to the channel in the outer wall.

8. An electrical connecter comprising a body of insulating material provided with a central opening and a longitudinal recess, a channel cutting the central portion of the outer wall of said recess, shoulders on the side walls of said channel projecting into said recess adjacent its open end, the inner edges of said shoulders forming substantially a right angle with and joining said outer wall of said recess, a contact element consisting of a strip of conducting material bent upon itself so that one leg is longer than the other, the free ends of said legs being seated in said recess, the longer leg being provided. with an aperture and an outwardly extending tongue engaged with said outer wall of said recess and abutting said shoulder to lock said contact element in said recess against retraction, the shorter leg being provided with an inwardly extending tongue adjacent its free end lying within said aperture, the inner wall of said recess being provided with a longitudinal channel opposed to the channel in the outer wall and also with a transverse channel connectlng said longitudinal channel with the central opening of the body.

9. An electrical connecter comprising a body of insulating material provided with a central opening and an integral longitudinal recess open at one end only and a contact element consisting of a strip of conducting material bent upon itself so that one leg is longer than the other, the free ends of said legs being seated in said recess, one leg being provided with an outwardly extended resilient tongue in engagement with a wall of said recess to positively lock said contact element in said recess against retraction.

10. An electrical connecter comprising a body of insulating material provided with an integral longitudinal recess open at one end only and shoulders constricting said recess adjacent its open end and a contact element, said contact element consisting of a strip of conducting material bent upon itself so that one leg is longer than the other, the free end of said legs being seated in said recess, one leg being provided with an outwardly extending tongue engaging with a wall of said recess and abutting said shoulder to lock said contact element in said recess against retraction. v

11. An electrical connecter comprising a body of insulating material provided with an integral longitudinal recess open at one end only, a channel cutting the central portion of the outer wall of said recess, shoulders on the side walls of said channel projecting into said recess adjacent its open end, the inner edges of said shoulders forming substantially a. right angle with and joining said outer wall of said recess, a contact element consisting of a. strip of conducting material bent upon itself so that one leg is longer than the other, the free ends of said legs being. seated in said recess, one leg being provided with an outwardly extending tongue engaged with said outer wall of said recess and abutting said shoulder to lock said contact element in said recess against retraction.

12. An electrical connecter comprising a body of insulating material provided with an integral longitudinal recess open at one end only, a channel cutting the central portion of the outer wall of said recess, shoulders on the side walls of said channel projecting into said recess adjacent its open end, the inner edges of said shoulders forming substantially a right angle with and joining said outer wall of said recess, a contact element consisting of a strip of conducting material bent upon itself so that one leg is longer than the other, the free ends of said legs being seated in said recess, one leg being provided with an outwardly extending tongue engaged with said outer wall of said recess and abutting said shoulder to lock said contact element in said recess against retraction, the inner wall of said recess being provided with a longitudinal channel opposed to the channel in the outer wall.

13. An electrical connecter comprising a body of insulating material provided with a central opening and an integral longitudinal recess open at one end only, a channel cutting the central portion of the outer wall of said recess, shoulders on the side walls of said channel projecting into said recess adjacent its open end, the inner edges of said shoulders forming substantially a right angle with and joiningsaid outer wall of said recess, a contact element consisting of a strip of conducting material bent upon itself so that one leg is longer than the other, the free ends of said legs being seated in said recess, one leg being provided with an outwardly extending tongue engaged with said outer wall of said recess and abutting said shoulder to lock said contact element in said recess against retraction, the inner wall of said recess being provided with a longitudinal channel opposed to the channel in the outer wall and also with a transverse channel connecting said longitudinal channel with the central opening of the body.

CHARLES E. GILBERT. 

